Flick (Jacqui Purvis) has been enjoying a passionate, whirlwind romance with River Boy gang leader Rory Templeton (Joshua Orpin) for the past few weeks, putting her at odds with brother Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) who has just begun work at Mangrove River police station and heard all about their antics.
Cash was particularly concerned after learning that his predecessor Franklin McGrath had crossed the River Boys and wound up dead, with his body dumped in a local dam. Whilst they were the obvious suspects, there was no physical evidence… until last week.
When wildlife cam footage obtained from the national park placed the car of Rory’s sidekick Dingo (JK Kazzi) near the scene of the crime, with Dingo driving and an unseen person in the passenger seat, Cash was able to have Dingo’s car impounded.
Dingo assured Rory that he had cleaned the car thoroughly, but was worried about a bag of souvenirs he had kept, including McGrath’s police ID and the crowbar used to dispose of him.
At the same time, forensics had returned a positive match for McGrath’s blood in Dingo’s car, and Cash and fellow officers raided the hangout.
With Dingo there, alongside the bag, he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Next week, Cash and Jo (Ariadne Sgouros) interview Dingo with his lawyer present, but he doesn’t make any comment. Nor is he willing to identify the second person seen in his car.
When Rory hears of the latest developments from Mali, he rushes out to call some of the boys with Flick in pursuit. As Rory tells her what has happened, Flick realises that Cash had been telling the truth all this time.
Rory is determined to sort it out but Flick points out that there must be compelling evidence against Dingo, in which case there would be nothing he could do.
Flick is thrown however when Rory tells her a half-truth in that he helped Dingo dispose of the body.
“Oh let me guess,” Cash taunts. “You’re mate’s innocent?”
Rory confirms that is correct… Dingo didn’t kill McGrath, he did!
In the interrogation room, Rory reveals what really happened. McGrath had been relentlessly surveilling the River Boys, driving Dingo to the brink.
Rory wasn’t present when the altercation began, but by the time he arrived, McGrath was already unconscious. Knowing McGrath would identify Dingo, Rory made the decision to eliminate him.